The average spending on British weddings has fallen for the first time in years, according to a new report

The average national marriage expenditure is now £ 17,674, a decrease of 1.3% from £ 17,913 last year, according to new research. The figures have been manipulated by the wedding planning website Bridebook.co.uk, which has analyzed data from more than 2,000 recently married couples who voted in The Wedding Industry Awards 2019.

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The slight decrease in the average expenditure – for the first time since 2012 – is reportedly linked to an increase in supplier choice, smart planning and the impact of the current economic climate in the run-up to Brexit.

The wedding location and food and drink are still where most money is spent
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"Millennials are undoubtedly influenced by political insecurity and tightening their belts," said Hamish Shephard, Bridebook.co.uk founder Harper & # 39; s Bazaar. "Suppliers are also influenced, but the domino effect is that they work more with customers who offer a striking, hyper-personal service, so the choice for couples increases and they can find a new level of creative freedom that celebrates individuality, or now it's about cupcakes instead of a cake, or a bride getting her dress from Topshop. "The study also showed that fewer couples choose to marry in a place of worship, with67% of weddings now take place at the reception, 7% more than the year before. In some cases this means that the extra costs of a separate florist, specific music and extra transport for a location change can be avoided.

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"Couples planning weddings are getting smarter to avoid spending too much on their big day in marrying, but still ensuring that they organize the celebration of their lives," Shephard adds. According to the survey, the highest supplier costs remain the location, which is higher than all other categories year-on-year at £ 6,539, an increase of 6%. Spending on food and drinks is the second highest cost of £ 5,187 and with a higher value placed on the "party", the bride and groom also offer more evening guests. The average number jumped from 80 in the previous year to 90 last year.

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Given the average total cost of marrying is still extremely high, it is no big surprise that non-Saturday weddings (which are generally more expensive) are on the rise. The survey showed that 47% of the weddings were held on a different day than Saturday, with 10% of the couples choosing Sunday as an alternative. August is still the most popular month of the year when it comes to high season. The final figures do not include the money spent on a honeymoon, which averages £ 4,875. Something else to deal with if you plan your big day this year.